Forward is now a senior

By Chris Miller-Prep Sports Writer/The Daily News

Published: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 11:00 AM.

Talk to Pitz, and you can quickly tell Hicks is spot-on about the player’s team-first mentality.

“It’s always nice to score a lot of goals, but I’m more worried about the overall team and what we can to do together as one,” he said. “I want to be the best team we can. I love this group of boys. All the kids seem to want to be here. They all love the game, and they want to work together.”

Still, Hicks pointed out that Pitz will be relied on to be a go-to player on the offensive attack. While Hicks wants Pitz to distribute the ball well and create chances for other players, he also wants him to take advantage of opportunities inside the 18-yard line.

“We definitely are looking for him to score goals,” Hicks said. “He’s not going to be looking for every single opportunity to score goals, but I do think when he’s in the danger area that he is going to look to go to the goal. We need that.”

Last year, Pitz had eight goals and seven assists. He recorded six goals and four assists as a sophomore in 2011 and had three goals and one assist as a freshman.

“I’ve never put up too much big stats in the past, but if I do this year, I’m sure it will be because of these boys helping me out,” Pitz said. “I’m very versatile and I can play anywhere. If we are down a man somewhere, I’m happy to fill in and be a facilitator. I just want to do my best to help the team out.”

While the Dixon High senior is one of eight children — six boys and two girls — Pitz is the third to play soccer for the coach Kevin Hicks.

Blake and Cameron, two of his brothers, were key players as seniors in helping Dixon advance to the NCHSAA 1-A championship game in 2009.

Now it is 17-year-old Chandler’s turn to try to lead the Bulldogs, something the forward said he was looking forward to.

“It’s family competition in that who can do what each year,” Pitz said. “They both went to the state championship and so I’m obviously looking to accomplish what they accomplished. It’s always fun.”

Hicks said he’s enjoyed coaching Chandler after working with Blake and Cameron. Hicks was actually Chandler’s middle school coach.

“It’s been good,” Hicks said. “All of them have been really hard workers and have been very productive for us. It’s been nice.”

Pitz said he got into soccer when he was 4 because “the whole family kind of picked it up.” He continued to enjoy the sport as he watched Cameron and Blake hit the pitch and go through the ranks and then playing for Dixon.

He hopes to have a good season, not just because it’s his senior year but also because it could be a while before another Pitz plays soccer for the Bulldogs.

“I’m probably the last of the soccer clan,” he said. “There’s a big gap between the next ones coming up. They (Blake and Cameron) always told me I’m the next Pitz going in.”

Chandler Pitz is a four-year varsity player who has come a long way, Hicks said.

The coach said Pitz has been more focused on team unity the past two years compared to his first two varsity seasons, which allowed Pitz to emerge as a team captain in 2012.

“When he came in as a freshman and throughout his sophomore year, he developed into a selfish player,” Hicks said. “But over his junior year and now he has no interest in personal recognition. It’s cliché, but he legitimately has matured and grown up as a person and that has translated onto the field.

“He wants to keep the ball moving and he wants to get his teammates the best opportunities to perform at a top level.”

Talk to Pitz, and you can quickly tell Hicks is spot-on about the player’s team-first mentality.

“It’s always nice to score a lot of goals, but I’m more worried about the overall team and what we can to do together as one,” he said. “I want to be the best team we can. I love this group of boys. All the kids seem to want to be here. They all love the game, and they want to work together.”

Still, Hicks pointed out that Pitz will be relied on to be a go-to player on the offensive attack. While Hicks wants Pitz to distribute the ball well and create chances for other players, he also wants him to take advantage of opportunities inside the 18-yard line.

“We definitely are looking for him to score goals,” Hicks said. “He’s not going to be looking for every single opportunity to score goals, but I do think when he’s in the danger area that he is going to look to go to the goal. We need that.”

Last year, Pitz had eight goals and seven assists. He recorded six goals and four assists as a sophomore in 2011 and had three goals and one assist as a freshman.

“I’ve never put up too much big stats in the past, but if I do this year, I’m sure it will be because of these boys helping me out,” Pitz said. “I’m very versatile and I can play anywhere. If we are down a man somewhere, I’m happy to fill in and be a facilitator. I just want to do my best to help the team out.”